It’s hard to believe, but fall is upon us and so is Special Town Meeting. The event will convene outdoors Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon. If you attended this year’s Spring Town Meeting, then you have a good idea of what to expect. As reported in the Press, the year’s first meeting went smoothly and some attendees even reported preferring the more spacious outdoor setting to the traditional cramped gymnasium, so its format and procedures have been used again as a model for the upcoming meeting.
Whether you are primed from spring attendance or are stepping outside for the first time since COVID-19, this is your chance to have your voice heard on issues including the disposition of the Bromfield House, what steps are taken to balance the budget and build a cash cushion for unforeseen emergencies, and more. This guide highlights important aspects of the meeting, tells you what to expect, and helps you prepare to be an active participant and voter.
The moderator will be designating four to six volunteers as vote-counters in case of a close vote. To volunteer ahead of time, email Town Clerk Marlene Kenney at mkenney@harvard.ma.us.
What to expect
The meeting will be held outside on the field in front of the library and the Bromfield School. Parking is allowed around the school or library. Handicapped-accessible parking will be available on the field in front of the library. People with impaired mobility, but who lack handicapped–accessible parking permits, can park near the field on Mass. Ave. Attendees who park in the accessible areas will be seated in the corner closest to check-in. (See map)
The check-in procedure will be similar to that of the June meeting. There will be four “gates” along the path that leads from Mass. Ave. to the library, directing attendees to lines based on their street address. Walkways will be one-way to keep people a safe distance apart.
At the check-in gate, you will register and receive your voting card and additional materials. For the safety of everyone involved, there will be plexiglass barriers separating you from those checking you in. This is similar to the current setup at Town Hall or what you experienced at check-in if you voted in the primaries.
As you enter, be sure to collect a copy of the warrant and any handouts on display. Committees have been known to make last-minute changes to a warrant article and to distribute a revised version at the meeting.
Once “inside,” you can take a seat on the lawn. Chairs will be spaced 6 feet apart under the main tent and should not be moved. There will be additional seating in a couples tent where groups of two can sit together, and a mask-free tent for those who are unable to wear a face covering because of medical issues. You can also bring your own chair and sit outside the tents as long as you maintain social distancing.
Hand sanitizer will be everywhere!
Participation
As always, Town Meeting is an opportunity for your voice to be heard, and Moderator Bill Barton encourages participation.
To speak, walk to the microphone and stay 6 feet apart from others while waiting in line. If you are in the no-mask tent, stay in your seat, raise your hand, and wait for the town administrator to bring you a microphone. The microphones will be sanitized after each use.
Once you have been recognized by the moderator, state your name and address and speak only to the motion or question before the meeting. All comments should bring up a new point and should not simply reiterate something that has already been said. Address the moderator, not another individual, and keep in mind that a vote ends all discussion on a motion.
To vote, raise your voting card for either yea or nay and keep it raised until the moderator and vote counters have completed their count.
What to bring
Your mask should be high on your Town Meeting checklist this year. Unless you have a medical condition that does not allow you to wear a face covering, you will not be admitted without one.
The Town Meeting warrant and meeting handouts are your guide to the day’s proceedings. There is no booklet like the one provided in June. Expect a document of two dozen pages or less that contains only the meeting articles, the longest of which is the 20-page zoning bylaw proposed by the Planning Board to encourage development of housing appropriate for older citizens who want to downsize. That bylaw will not be voted on, however, because on Monday, the Planning Board voted unanimously to table it.
To be fully informed, you will also want to bring along a copy of this week’s issue of the Harvard Press, or at least the pages that include the “Warrant in Plain English.” Unless, of course, you prefer to take on the brow-furrowing process of translating the legal jargon yourself.
The meeting will begin at noon and will continue straight through without breaks, so you may want to bring a drink or snack. Moderator Bill Barton said it is OK to remove your mask to take a bite or sip, but that it should be replaced as soon as possible.
Transportation
The Harvard Council on Aging will be providing rides for anyone who needs transportation to and from the meeting. The COA van will pick up residents at their homes, or they can park at Hildreth House and take a shuttle to the meeting site. Van service will begin around 11 a.m. and shuttle service closer to 11:30 a.m.
To use either the van or shuttle service, you will need to schedule a time slot by Oct. 1 at noon. To do so, call the COA at (978) 456-4120.
Van passengers must wear masks. Each van will transport only one person at a time unless they are members of the same household or use a wheelchair, in which case they will need to be accompanied by an aide. Riders will be separated from the driver and the van will be sanitized between trips. Those who have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone who does, will not be allowed to ride.
Return services will be provided following the meeting. However, if you want to leave early you can arrange for that as well by speaking with your van driver on the trip there.
Child care
In past years, the League of Women Voters has organized babysitting for Town Meeting. This year that service will not be available. Children will be welcome at the meeting as long as they wear masks and adhere to social distancing standards.
Health and safety
Town Meeting will be a new experience for some, and many may have concerns about gathering at this time. However, the boards and committee members behind the meeting’s organization will be taking considerable precautions to keep everybody safe. These will include the seating arrangements, plexiglass dividers, sanitation of microphones between speakers, and copious amounts of hand sanitizer. People who attended the Spring Town Meeting reported feeling safe in the outdoor environment and there were no COVID-19 cases reported as a result of the gathering.
